Music
We are proud to provide high-quality music education to our students. See what we offer below.
Band
BandMiddle School Band
Middle School Band instruction begins in sixth grade. In most cases, students are divided into "like-instrument" classes. Students practice performance skills and have several opportunities to perform in concerts and competitions.
During the first year, students study:
tone production
fingerings
rhythm
instrument care
basic musical terms
While it is ideal to begin band instruction in grade 6, Beginning Band is open to all middle school students.
After the first year, students are assigned to one of three performing bands:
Honors
Symphonic
Concert
These classes are full bands, which lets students build their ensemble skills by working as a team.
Other middle school bands include Pep band and Jazz band:
- Pep band is a pre-marching band experience that has students perform at a few football games, pep rallies and the annual Festival of Bands.
- Jazz band is an exploratory experience offered depending on student interest. Students in Jazz band are taught to improvise solos and play popular styles of music.
Students continue developing their skills while performing in concerts, pep rallies, football games and UIL contests. Students are also encouraged to participate in individual events such as Solo & Ensemble Contest, TMEA All-State Band and All-District Band tryouts.
How to enroll in middle school band
Enrolling for middle school band will begin during the last year of a student's elementary education.
Select one of the band choices on the choice of subject form available at the elementary schools in February.
The band director from the selected middle school will contact parents and invite them to a beginning band information meeting.
Students will be matched to the instrument that fits them best.
It is vital that all students go through this process and not just sign up for the class that they desire. The band director should contact applicants by April 1st. If there has been no response, call them at their school for more information.
Middle School All-District Band
Each year, middle school band students are given the opportunity to audition for a position in the GISD Middle School All-District Band. The tryouts consist of the performance of selected etudes as well as scales and sight-reading. From this audition, the judges select the very top students to perform with the Middle School All-District Band.
High School Band
High School BandEach student must complete an audition and is then placed in the level-appropriate band. High school level band courses include:
Honors
Symphonic
Concert
Jazz
Fundamental Band Studies
Instrumental Ensemble
The various bands perform in concerts, community performances, pep rallies and contests.
Students are also encouraged to participate in individual activities such as UIL Solo & Ensemble Contest, All-City Band Tryouts, All-Region, Area and State Tryouts.
Marching band and Guard
All bands combine to form our award-winning campus marching bands and perform at athletic events and statewide competitions. Participation in the marching band provides many leadership opportunities and may satisfy physical education requirements for graduation.
Students may also participate in Guard and Winter Guard, an auxiliary unit of the marching band. These students enhance the performance with a visual interpretation of the music. Guard units may also compete independently during the winter months.
Choir
ChoirElementary
General music instruction begins in kindergarten. All
elementary children work with certified music specialists.
Most campuses offer honor choir to fourth and fifth-grade students for additional vocal training. Third and fourth graders may also audition for the Garland ISD Children's Chorus.
The Garland ISD Children's Chorus
Being a part of the Garland ISD Children’s Chorus organization is a unique experience for talented young musicians. There is one choir for fourth graders and one for fifth graders that also perform together as one mass choir.
Elementary students from every campus in our district audition each spring. Final selections are made based on an assessment including:
vocal technique
pitch matching
tone quality
degree of preparation
Students in the Children’s Chorus begin their year with a four-day summer workshop to learn the music and get acquainted with the other students. Weekly 90 minute rehearsals are held Monday nights at Luna Elementary.
Parents, if you would like to receive Children's Chorus email communications, please submit a request:
- Grade 4: Eric Robertson, 4th Grade Chorus Assistant Director
- Grade 5: Lyndsey Alecusan, 5th Grade Chorus Assistant Director
Our Chorus students grow to be the best they can be in our sessions. We ask that our members all agree to the Chorus pledge.
Practices for the Children's Chorus will be held at Luna Elementary.
Children's Chorus resources
Middle School
Exact course offerings vary from campus to campus, but in general, sixth-grade students participate in treble and mixed choirs. After the initial year, students are assigned to Mixed, Treble, or A Cappella Choirs based on their skill level.
High School
Students continue to develop fundamental skills and participate in a variety of performance opportunities. Each student must complete an audition and is then placed in the level-appropriate choir.
High school level courses include:
Treble
Mixed Choir
A Cappella Choir
Vocal Ensemble
Choir Performances & Contests
The performance opportunities for the various choirs include concerts, community performances, and contests. Students are also encouraged to participate in individual events such as UIL Solo & Ensemble Contest, All-Region Choir tryouts, and State Choir Tryouts.
Guitar
Classical guitar study is offered only at Garland High School.
Mariachi
MariachiMariachi is a traditional Mexican genre of music. Our Mariachi programs:
- celebrate the history of Mariachi music
promotes the cultural diversity of the district
encourages more minority students to participate in fine arts
Students in high school Mariachi bands perform year-round for community events and may be able to earn community service credit. These students also can choose to compete in Mariachi festivals, All-Region Mariachi and as a group in the UIL Solo and Ensemble Competition.
Middle school Mariachi
Students have the opportunity to join Mariachi programs at Austin Academy during "zero hour" or at the Jackson Technology Center during class.
Austin Academy's classes will be taught by Jesús Pineda and Jackson Technology Center's by Rebecca De Luna.
Mariachi Estrellas
The GISD Mariachi Estrellas, or "All-Stars," is a performance group consisting of band and orchestra students from North Garland High School. The group is a club meeting and rehearsing after school.
Music Director: Rebecca De Luna
Mariachi Oro
The Mariachi Oro, or "Gold," is a performance group consisting of band and orchestra students from Garland High School. Students participate in either Mariachi level one or level two ensemble classes during the school day. Classes combine for after school rehearsals to comprise Mariachi Oro.
Music Director: Jesús Pineda
Performance dates Spring 2020
January 24
NGHS United Nations Club Talent Show
6:30 p.m. NGHS Mariachi Estrellas
January 28
Beaver Elementary Multicultural Night
6:30 pm NGHS Mariachi Estrellas
January 30
Region X
11:30 a.m. GHS Mariachi Oro
February 21
Club Hill Multicultural Night
6:30 pm NGHS Mariachi Estrellas
March 25
Adult ESL Parent Graduation
NGHS Auditorium 7:00 p.m. NGHS Mariachi Estrellas
April 27
Joe Garcia Elementary Awards
Curtis Culwell Center 7:00 pm GHS Mariachi Oro
April 30
GANAS Middle School Awards
7:00 p.m. NGHS Mariachi Estrellas
May 1
Tour of Elementary Schools
NGHS Mariachi Estrellas & GHS Mariachi Oro
May 5
Celebration of Cultures at the Granville Arts Center
7:00 p.m. NGHS Mariachi Estrellas & GHS Mariachi Oro
Orchestra
Orchestra Beginning Orchestra
Students can start taking Orchestra in grade 4 or grade 6 depending on the campus. Students practice performance skills and have several opportunities to perform in concerts and competitions.
These classes are limited to one or a few similar instruments rather than a full orchestra. This helps students master their instruments at a faster pace. While it is best to start in beginner band in either grades 4 or 6, Beginning Orchestra is open to all middle school students.
Concert Orchestra
After the first year, students are assigned to one of three performing concert orchestras:
Intermediate
Advanced
Honors
This testing is based on skill level and mastery of TEKS. These classes are full orchestras, which lets students build their ensemble skills by working as a team. In addition to further development of individual and ensemble musical skills, these orchestras offer a variety of performance opportunities including concerts, pep rallies, festivals, on-campus events and UIL assessments. These classes continue on to the high school level and meet fine arts requirements for graduation.
Instruction in stringed instruments is offered at the elementary level at:
Hillside Academy for Excellence
Kimberlin Academy for Excellence
- Spring Creek Elementary
Walnut Glen Academy for Excellence
Students interested in beginning or continuing string study at the middle school level may do so at:
Austin Academy for Excellence
Jackson Technology Center for Math and Science
Webb Middle School
Orchestra programs are offered at the high school level at:
Garland High School
North Garland High School
Students are also encouraged to participate in individual activities throughout middle and high school. Students may try out for UIL Solo & Ensemble Competitions, All-District Orchestra, and the TMEA All-State Tryouts. A number of scholarships are awarded to our student musicians every year.
Piano
Piano lab classes are offered in Garland ISD at:
The Classical Center at Vial
Austin Academy for Excellence
The Classical Center at Brandenburg
Garland High School
Lakeview Centennial High School
Music enrichment
The Music Enrichment Program is offered as an optional addition to regular classroom instruction. Students who enroll in the program will have an opportunity to work one-on-one with one of our outstanding enrichment teachers on literature and techniques specific to their specific instrument or voice.
Learn more on the Music Enrichment program page.
For questions about the Music Enrichment Program, please contact your child’s music teacher.